ATLAS TRANSLATES

Chapter 54: A Seventeen-Year-Old Kid

The night had turned completely dark, soaked in inky blackness. After playing with a cat for a while, Xu Si had just opened his phone when he saw Jiang Rong’s message.

[Little Rule-follower]: Went for tutoring, forgot to tell you yesterday. [Little Rule-follower]: Sorry for leaving you to clean alone.

Xu Si read her messages, his lips curving into a smile without him noticing.

Xu Si: How will you make it up to me?

After sending this, he saw she was typing… but no message came through for a while.

Just as he was about to say something else, Jiang Rong’s reply came.

[Little Rule-follower]: I don’t know. [Little Rule-follower]: You decide.

He had only meant to tease her, but she took it seriously.

Xu Si: Then bring me water whenever I play basketball from now on. [Little Rule-follower]: Okay.

…

Jiang Rong held her phone in one hand, with an IV drip attached to the other. Unable to eat, she could only receive nutrition through the drip. After replying, she put her phone beside her pillow.

…

A woman in a red dress wearing black sunglasses entered the flower shop. When she removed her sunglasses, the shop owner was struck by her beautiful face.

“Miss, who are you buying flowers for?” the owner asked eagerly.

“For an important kid in my life,” Jiang Zhixu replied.

The shop owner hesitated before asking: “How old is the child? We have sunflower and candy bouquets that are perfect for children.”

Jiang Zhixu answered seriously: “Seventeen.”

The owner was momentarily stunned before recovering: “What kind of flowers would you like, miss?”

“I’d like hydrangeas, light purple ones, with some roses and balloon flowers.”

“Alright, would you like them tomorrow or later today?”

“Right now, please. Make them look nice, with light-colored wrapping. The kid likes light colors.”

“Please have a seat while I prepare them.”

The shop owner worked quickly, finishing the bouquet in less than ten minutes. Jiang Zhixu paid and left with the flowers. She then went to a dessert shop, emerging minutes later with a taro mille-crepe cake.

Just as she was about to order a car on WeChat, a black car stopped in front of her. The window rolled down, revealing a familiar face.

“Where are you going?” Yao Jinghe asked.

Jiang Zhixu, who had been worried about getting a ride at this hour, replied: “To the City People’s Hospital, thank you, boss.”

Yao Jinghe opened the passenger door, noticing the flowers in her arms: “I thought you were going on a date.”

Jiang Zhixu laughed: “What date? I don’t have a boyfriend, though you could say I’m going on a date with my kid.”

“Your kid?”

“Yes, my kid…”

Yao Jinghe suddenly leaned closer. Jiang Zhixu froze at his approaching face, her words caught in her throat.

Yao Jinghe pulled her right seatbelt across: “It’s hard to fasten the seatbelt while holding flowers.”

Jiang Zhixu came back to her senses: “Thank you.”

Yao Jinghe responded with a “mm” before asking: “Is it that girl who came to find you last time?”

“Yes.”

At the mention of Jiang Rong, Jiang Zhixu’s face lit up. She carefully held the flowers with one hand and the cake with the other.

They didn’t speak further during the drive.

At the hospital entrance, Yao Jinghe got out first, taking the flowers from her and protecting her head as she got out.

Jiang Zhixu took back the flowers: “Thank you, I’ll go now.”

“Okay.”

Yao Jinghe watched as Jiang Zhixu left before looking away.

…

There was a gentle knock on the hospital room door.

Thinking it was Tian Ling, Jiang Rong said: “Come in.”

Jiang Zhixu entered carrying a bouquet of flowers, placing them on the bedside cabinet.

“Xu-jie.”

Jiang Zhixu had just told her she hadn’t finished work, so her sudden appearance was quite unexpected.

Seeing Jiang Rong’s pale face, Jiang Zhixu felt heartbroken: “You’ve suffered. How are you feeling now?”

“I’m okay.”

After speaking, Jiang Rong glanced at the flowers beside the bed: “The flowers are beautiful.”

Jiang Zhixu held up the cake bag: “I brought you cake too.”

“I can’t eat anything yet. You’ll have to eat it for me.”

Jiang Zhixu looked at the cake somewhat regretfully, then opened it and took a spoonful: “I’ll eat it for you.”

Jiang Rong watched her with curved eyes.

Just as Tian Ling opened the door, she saw Jiang Zhixu sitting inside.

“Auntie,” Jiang Zhixu greeted politely.

Tian Ling looked her over and asked: “You came to see Rong Rong?”

Jiang Zhixu nodded.

“Alright, you two chat, I’ll step out.” She left after speaking.

Having eaten half the cake, Jiang Zhixu asked Jiang Rong: “You’re going back to school in a few days, right?”

Jiang Rong: “Sunday night.”

“Won’t you rest a few more days?”

Jiang Rong shook her head: “No need.”

She heard her phone vibrate and said to Jiang Zhixu: “Let me check the message.”

She unlocked her phone to see a message from Xu Si.

Xu Si: Today’s sunset. [Jiang Rong]: It’s beautiful.

Seeing her instant reply, Xu Si sent another picture of a black cat.

[Little Rule-follower]: Can’t even see its features.

Xu Si chuckled before replying.

Xu Si: It blended into the night. Xu Si: Isn’t it late? Aren’t you going to sleep, little rule-follower?

Jiang Zhixu noticed Jiang Rong’s slight smile: “Who is it?”

“My deskmate.”

[Little Rule-follower]: Going to sleep soon. Xu Si: Goodnight, little rule-follower.

Jiang Rong put her phone back beside her pillow.

Jiang Zhixu smiled knowingly: “Male deskmate?”

“Male deskmate.”

“Looks like my little one is developing feelings. I should meet this boy next time.”

Jiang Rong’s ears turned slightly red: “No, he’s just my deskmate.”

“Haha, I’ll stop teasing you.”

Jiang Zhixu continued: “It’s getting late, you should rest early.”

“I’ll rest soon. You have work tomorrow, you should go back. It’s not safe this late, let my mom drive you.”

“It’s fine, no need. I’ll message you when I get home.”

“Okay.”

After Jiang Zhixu left, the room fell quiet again. Tian Ling came in, tucked Jiang Rong’s blanket, and asked: “Who was that girl just now?”

“Jiang Zhixu.”

Tian Ling recalled the name and face: “That girl from our old neighborhood?”

“Yes.”

“She’s not a good girl. Rong Rong, why do you keep in contact with her after all these years?”

“Mom, what are you saying? Xu-jie is my best friend. Don’t talk about her like that.”

Tian Ling saw Jiang Rong’s expression: “Alright, alright, mom won’t say anymore. Get some rest.”

She left the room after speaking.

Jiang Rong saw Xu Si’s last message.

After hesitating, she replied with a goodnight.

Xu Si quickly responded.

Xu Si: Why aren’t you sleeping yet? [Jiang Rong]: Going to sleep now. Xu Si: [Link]

Jiang Rong clicked the link to see a headline in capital letters: “Health Experts Say: Stop Staying Up Late! You’ll Get Ugly, Dark, and Break Out!!!”

She couldn’t help but laugh at the dramatic headline.

[Jiang Rong]: You read this kind of thing? Xu Si: Sometimes. Xu Si: If you don’t sleep you’ll get as dark as Yuan Yuan. [Jiang Rong]: Going to sleep now, goodnight. Xu Si: Goodnight.

Looking at his last message, Jiang Rong’s mood improved without her even noticing.